What is Finnish mythology called?

What is Finnish mythology called?

Kalevala
Most of the myths date from pre-Christian times and were passed from generation to generation by storytellers. A work called the Kalevala (pronounced kah-luh-VAH-luh), which the Finnish people consider their national epic, contains many of the legends.

How many Finnish gods are there?

So, Agricola wrote down that the Finns had 12 gods in their pantheon, just like the Greeks. He also gave a quick description of what those gods did.

What gods did the Finnish believe in?

Finnish paganism is the indigenous pagan religion in Finland and Karelia prior to Christianisation. It was a polytheistic religion, worshipping a number of different deities. The principal god was the god of thunder and the sky, Ukko; other important gods included Jumo (Jumala), Ahti, and Tapio.

Is Kalevala a myth?

Introduction. The Kalevala begins with the traditional Finnish creation myth, leading into stories of the creation of the earth, plants, creatures, and the sky. Creation, healing, combat and internal story telling are often accomplished by the character(s) involved singing of their exploits or desires.

Is Finnish mythology Norse?

It has many features shared with Estonian and other Finnic mythologies, but also shares some similarities with neighbouring Baltic, Slavic and, to a lesser extent, Norse mythologies. Finnish mythology survived within an oral tradition of mythical poem-singing and folklore well into the 19th century.

What does Ahti mean in Finnish?

In Finnish mythology, Ahti (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈɑhti]) is a heroic character of Finnish folk poetry. Sometimes given in folk poetry the epithet of Saarelainen (pronounced [ˈsɑːrelɑi̯nen], “the Islander”). The connection between the heroic and godly Ahti and Ahto, if any, is unclear.

Is Thor Finnish?

Ukko (“old man”) the god of the sky and thunder, related to Thor (Estonian Taara). Also related to Estonian Vanemuine. The central character in Finnish folklore and he is the main character in the Kalevala.

What does Vitu mean in Finnish?

Vittu ( Pronunciation of “vittu” (help·info)) is an ancient word for the female genitalia but now has the literal meaning of “cunt”.